Device for unclogging drains or the like

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR UNCLOGGING DRAINS OR THE LIKE WHICH INCLUDES AN ELONGATED, HOLLOW HANDLE PORTION AND AN INFLATABLE MEMBER CONNECTED TO A TERMINAL OF THE HANDLE PORTION. THE INFLATABLE MEMBER INCLUDES A FLEXIBLE STRIP WHICH CON STITUTES A FORMER WHICH MAY BE LONGITUDINALLY BENT TO SELECTIVELY ADJUST THE INFLATABLE MEMBER TO A RECTILINEAR OR CURVILINEAR SHAPE. A WATER CONDUIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOLLOW HANDLE PORTION EXTENDS LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH THE INFLATABLE MEMBER, AND TERMINATES IN A NOZZLE HAVING AN OUTLET ORIFICE. A SOURCE OF PNEUMATIC PRESSURE INFLATES   THE INFLATABLE MEMBER TO SEAL THE DRAIN OPENING. A WATER SOURCE DIRECTS WATER THROUGH THE HANDLE PORTION, INFLATABLE MEMBER AND NOZZLE TO EXERT HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ON OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE DRAIN LINE.

Sept. 28,197]

A. ANDRISAN I DEVICE FOR UNCLO GGING DRA INS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed way '25, 1970 INVENTOR. lberf Andr/san/ ATTORNEYS 2 P 28, 1971A. ANDRISANI DEVICE FOR UNCLOGGING BRAINS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 25, 1970 R. m m V W A/ber/ Andr/san/ M/% BY W ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,608,098 DEVICE FOR UN CLOGGING DRAINS OR THE LIKE AlbertAndrisani, 77 S. Park St., Reno, Nev. 89502 Filed May 25, 1970, Ser. No.40,193 Int. Cl. E03d 11/00 US. Cl. 4-256 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A device for unclogging drains or the like which includes anelongated, hollow handle portion and an inflatable member connected to aterminal of the handle portion. The inflatable member includes aflexible strip which constitutes a former which may be longitudinallybent to selectively adjust the inflatable member to a rectilinear orcurvilinear shape. A water conduit in communication with the hollowhandle portion extends longitudinally through the inflatable member, andterminates in a nozzle having an outlet orifice. A source of pneumaticpressure inflates the inflatable member to seal the drain opening. Awater source directs water through the handle portion, inflatable memberand'nozzle to exert hydraulic pressure on obstructions in the drainline.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide adevice for unclogging drains or the like of simple, economicalconstruction which may be readily and eflectively used by an unskilledperson for clearing obstructions in plumbing facilities such as toilets,wash basins, sinks, etc.

Another object is to provide a device for unclogging drains or the likecomprising an elongated, tubular, rigid portion which serves as a handleand also as a conduit through which water flows, and a flexibleinflatable member through which water flows to a nozzle having an outletorifice, the inflatable member being enlarged under pneumatic pressureto seal the drain opening.

A further object is to provide a device of the character describedwherein the inflatable member includes an elongated, flexible strip overwhich an inflatable bladder is sleeved, the strip being longitudinallybent to selectively adjust the inflatable member toa rectilinear orcurvilinear shape to facilitate use of the present devices forunclogging different types of plumbing facilities.

Other objects will be manifest from the following detailed descriptionof the presently preferred form of the present invention taken inconjunction with the appended drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe present device for unclogging drains or the like illustrating itsapplication;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of theflexible inflatable member forming a salient portion of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows, showing the inflatable member of the devicein deflated position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showing the inflatablemember in inflated position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a flexible former comprising partof the inflatable member; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing an alternate position of theflexible inflatable member.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring now in greater detail to thedrawings, the device of the present invention includes an elongated han-3,608,098 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 dle portion 10, to the lower terminalof which is aflixed an inflatable member 12.

Handle portion 10 includes a hollow, rigid pipe 14 which is preferablymade of a light weight metal such as aluminum, over which is sleeved aflexible hose 16 which terminates at its upper end in a coupling 18.

Connection of handle portion 10 to flexible member 12 iseffected bymeans of a flexible former comprising an elongated metallic strip 20,shown to advantage in FIG. 5, one terminal of which is riveted, orsecured in any other suitable manner to the lower terminal of tubularmember 14, as indicated at 22. The opposite terminal of strip 20 isriveted or otherwise secured, as indicated at 24, to a nozzle 26 havingan orifice 28 through which water is expelled. It will be noted fromFIG. 2 that hose 16 extends through inflatable member 10 and is sleevedover strip 20, the terminal of the hose being frictionally held by atubular extension 30 of nozzle 26. A short tubular member 32 is rivetedto strip 20 at 34 in spaced relation to the lower terminal of pipe 14. V

A bladder 36 made of rubber or like expandable material is sleeved overa portion of hose 16 from nozzle 26 to a point spaced from the lowerterminal of hollow tube 14. Bladder 36 includes an outer wall 38 and aninner wall 40, the latter being in contiguous engagement with the outerperiphery of hose 16. An air chamber 41 is formed between inner wall 38and outer wall 40'.

At a point spaced from the lower terminal of hollow tube 14, there isprovided a circular block or collar 42 which is sleeved over hose 16 andtubular member 32, said block being provided with an annular flange 44over which the terminal portion of bladder 36 is urged.

In cooperation with block 42, there is provided a cupshaped member 46which is also sleeved on hose 16, a terminal portion of the cup clampingbladder 36 against block 42 to frictionally hold the same. Bolts 47secure clamp member 46 to block 42.

It will be noted from a consideration of FIG. 5 that a convolute spring48 is positioned over strip 20 between the lower terminal of handle 14and tubular member 32. Spring 48 serves to prevent kinks in hose 16 atthat point.

At a point immediately adjacent a terminal of tubular member 32, thereare provided a plurality of openings 50 for flushing out the areabetween inner wall 40 of bladder 36 and hose 16 adjacent thereto.

As shown to advantage in FIGS. 1 and 5, an air inlet valve '52 extendsthrough outer wall 38 of bladder 36 for delivering air into air chamber41 between the inner and outer walls, for inflating the bladder underair pressure. The outer end of air inlet valve 52 is connected to anelbow 54. A short air feed pipe 56 extends from elbow 54, over whichpipe is sleeved an air line 58 made of rubber or other flexiblematerial.

Air line 58 extends upwardly to a T-section 60, the opposed side of theT-section being threadedly engaged with a conventional air pumpincluding a cylinder 62 through which a movable piston 64 operates. Astandard tank valve 66 is connected to the other branch of T-section 60,which valve is actuated by a button 68 for releasing air from air feedline 58.

A support bracket 70 maintains the air pump in adjacent fixed relationto handle portion 10 of the present device. Support bracket 70 includesa pair of like plates, each including a web portion 72, one lateral edgeof which is arcuate as indicated at 74 to complement the contour ofcylinder 62. The opposite lateral edge is also arcuate as indicated at76 to complement the contour of handle portion 10. The two opposedplates are joined in clamping relationship with each other and fixedtogether by means of bolt and nut members 7 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, it will be noted that flexible portion12 of the present invention is adapted to assume different shapes foruse of the present device in clearing obstructions in various types ofdrain openings. It has been found that the curvilinear shape illustratedin FIG. 2 facilitates use of the present device in commodes or the like,while the rectilinear position shown in FIG. 6 is preferable for sinks.

Adaption of the present device for one use or the other is readilyeffected by bending former strip 20, which member fixes the contour offlexible member 12.

OPERATION In FIG. 1, there is illustrated the application of the deviceof the present invention in clearing an obstruction in a commode 80. Forthis purpose, a hose section 82 is connected at one end to coupling 18of the present device, the opposite end of the hose being joined by aconnector 84 to a faucet 86.

In order to adapt the device of the present invention for this use,flexible member 12 is bent into a curvilinear shape and inserted intothe drain opening in the bottom of the commode bowl, with bladded 36 indeflated condition.

Piston 64 of the air pump is then actuated to force air through air feedline 58 into the chamber formed between outer wall 38 and inner wall 40of bladder 36. Upon inflation of the bladder, the latter seals the drainopening and follows the contours thereof to effect an airtight andwatertight seal.

Faucet 86 is then turned on to direct water through hose 82 down throughhandle 10, flexible member 12 through nozzle 26 and out orifice 28 toexert hydraulic pressure on the obstruction in the drain line, and forcethe obstruction downwardly out of the drain line into the sewer line.

The device of the present invention comprises a minimum of simple,readily assembled parts, thereby permitting economic manufacturethereof. The adjustability of the flexible member enables this device tobe easily adapted for unclogging various types of plumbing facilities,use of the device being carried out with a minimum of instruction by anunskilled person.

While there has been herein shown and described the presently preferredform of the present invention, it is to be understood that such has beendone for purposes of illustration only, and that various changes may bemade therein within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A device for unclogging drains or the like comprising (a) a handle,

(b) a flexible member attached to one terminal of said handle,

() said flexible member including an inflatable portion, 7

(d) a hydraulic line extending through said handle and and flexiblemember,

(e) a source of hydraulic pressure connected to the free terminal ofsaid handle, for forcing water under pressure through the handle andflexible member against an obstruction in the drain,

( f) means for inflating the inflatable portion of said flexible member,and 7 g) valve means for releasing air from said inflatable portion.

2. The device of claim 1, with the addition of (a) a flexible formerwithin said inflatable portion of said flexible member,

(b) said flexible former being selectively bent to change the shape ofsaid flexible member from rectilinear to curvilinear and vice versa toadapt the device for clearing different types of drains.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein (a) said inflatable portion is anexpandable bladder.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein (a) said means for inflating saidinflatable portion is an air pump.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein (a) said former includes an elongated,flexible strip adapted to be bent to assume various shapes, and

(b) said inflatable portion includes an expandable bladder mounted oversaid flexible strip and conforming to the contour thereof.

6. A device for unclogging drains or the like comprising (a) a rigidhandle of elongated hollow construction,

(b) a flexible member connected to one terminal of said handle,

(0) said flexible member including an elongated, flexible former, oneterminal of which is fixed to said handle,

(d) a nozzle fixed to the opposite terminal of said former,

(e) an inflatable bladder mounted over said former,

(f) one end of said bladder being in sealed engagement with said nozzle,

(g) collar means connected to said former remote from said nozzle,

(h) means for securing the face end of said bladder to said collarmeans,

(i) a flexible fluid delivery conduit extending from said nozzle throughsaid bladded to said hollow handle,

(j) means for delivering water under pressure through said handle, fluiddelivery conduit and nozzle to impinge upon an obstruction in the drain,

(k) pneumatic means for inflating said bladder, and

(l) valve means for releasing air from said bladder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1959 France 4255 SAMUAL B.ROTHBERG, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner

